News

The daughter of a Syrian couple has been nominated for an award for helping those affected by the ongoing civil war.

Hannah Laham, 16, from Worcester Park, who studies at Cheam High School, has been nominated for the John Lewis Young People of the Year awards for London (YOPEY) which recognises young unsung heroes across London and gives them a chance to win £2,000.

Hannah, has been nominated for a number of reasons, including the work her and her family does to donate money and clothes to support charities helping Syria.

Hannah was born in the UK after her parents left Syria about 20 years ago but her family went back regularly to visit relatives - even returning after the civil war started.

Hannah, who works Saturdays at the Al-Zaitoona Arabic School, at Robin Hood Primary School, Kingston, where she was taught her parents’ native tongue.

She said: "I am a teaching assistant for the reception class. During the day I file homework in folders and assist the teacher in teaching the children the Arabic language.

"Hundreds of innocent lives are lost every day and I wish that the country could go back to the way it used to be."

At Cheam High, Hannah mentors a 12-year-old pupil who arrived in the UK from Thailand about a year ago.

Head girl Serena Cooke

The head girl of the school, Serena Cooke, from Cheam Village, has also been nominated for the awards for raising thousands of pounds for charity.

She has been writing poetry since she was 10 years old and last year decided to start a creative magazine called The Little Green Journal.

Already this year the school as raised more than £3,500 for charity thanks to Serena’s tombolas, raffles, bake sales and non-uniform days.

If you know someone who deserves the title of ‘Young Person of the Year’ nominate them at yopey.org.